From this sentence, are you suggesting that you believe that Mao and other Japanese skaters benefit from JSU politicking? I just don't see that at all. I never feel the judges really favor Japanese skaters that much. The ones that do come on top at times (Mao, Dai, Miki) do because of their own abilities and talents. The Japanese skating federation don't use their influence to the extent the European and Russian skating feds do, even though they have the capability to do it now. And also about Mao's spins. I didn't hear many people complain about her levels she got for that, so I don't understand your comment on that.

Japan Politiking in a way to benefit Mao? Nah. Not a chance! BTW, what do you mean by "favor Japanese skaters that much?" Just poking fun at you. A rhetorical q.

As for Mao's sit spin right after the 3F-2Lo, plz talk to some figure skating experts or authorities about form breaking like I described to find out differing opinions. I don't give a hoot about it because the difference is 0.5 point for level 4 and 3. Just trying to let the great composer know that the world may not be out to get Mao.

Key65man, I just do not know if I should call it a conspiracy. Maybe fanatic Yuna fans played a big role by using especially Internet to convince people that Yuna is the greatest. The people who does not know anything about skating believe that Yuna is the best just because everyone else is saying so and media started to say that way as well. I feel Japanese fans are much more reserved and they do not push as much as Koreans do. I can not generalize it but Koreans are much more emotional and enthusiastic about Yuna than Japsnese are feeling about Mao. As miki88 said, I feel the same way about Japanese skating federation. It is definitely quieter. I see Japanese people is less pushy and demanding in general. I am saying through my experiences because I had both Japanese and Korean students. And they are quite different!! I am not saying either one is better or worse. But maybe somehow people around Yuna has changed "the air" to go her side. As I say this again and again, both girls gave special jumps to be appreciated and both of them are about the same considering various elements. If "the air" was on Mao's side, maybe the outcome of whole season may have been different.

I doubt any level of politiking was involved in the ladies event. Yes the Japanese Federation probably has the most financial resources and may be capable of influencing the judges, but I'm not reminded of a single occasion where a Japanese skater received undeservedly high marks. (Mao skates better at home and thus receives higher marks, but that's a different matter). If anything, the Japanese federation has invested its resources on lesser matters like buying out Nikolai Morozov and hosting several cheesefests. OTOH, I simply doubt the Korean federation has enough resources or pull. Unless Yuna herself is the secret puppet master behind the federation. One thing Yuna has going for her though is that she seems to be well liked by the right people. Maybe she sends them mean bibimbap every weekend, who knows? But I highly doubt her federation has anything to do with it.

And key65man, I'm not sure what you're referring to in regards to Mao's sit spin. But the technical panel was very generous to pretty much everyone except for Rachel.